Sept. 30, 2025

By Steve Johnston

On the day that a shutdown of the federal government was a distinct possibility at midnight, two mayoral candidates talked a bit about how structural inefficiencies in how N.C. city, county and state government operate makes it difficult to respond to challenges facing a large and growing city.

In this and a few more contexts, Vi Lyles and Rob Yates pulled no punches: It is up to citizens, they say, to identify those issues, find solutions and get involved in making change.

Such appeals for citizen involvement, which presenters often make, generally are met with silence and, in all likelihood, little increase in involvement. Today’s in-person audience, for what it’s worth, clapped warmly.

Lyles, a Democrat and former city budget employee and City Council member, is seeking a fourth term as mayor. Yates is running a second time on a Libertarian banner. But despite their stated differences – including the transit tax referendum, which Lyles supports and Yates does not – they have since their last contest (Lyles D 73,62%, Misun Kim R 21.36%, Yates L 4.65%) come to see how much they agree about.

Among the issues Forum participants raised were: mental health, the next police chief, improving citizen participation, how to bring people together, the possibility of huge data centers adjacent to neighborhoods, moving money from police positions to mental health positions, precarious economic lives of senior citizens, reparations for victims of 1960s urban renewal and current neighborhood gentrification.

Those who watch the video will see candidates grappling with how to maintain their focus on people, not just policy; and installing communication with residents that does not get drowned out by busyness and social media.

The election is Nov. 4.